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Career as Equity Analyst

Equity Analyst is one of the most in-demand job profiles in the financial world. The role of an equity analyst is to research and analyse financial data and public records of various companies and use this analysis to ascertain the company’s stock value and to predict the company’s future financial picture. Brokerages or financial firms mostly employ equity analysts. Aspiring students and young professionals who are inclined, skilled problem solvers, logical thinkers, possess market knowledge should consider a career as an equity analyst. The role of equity analyst has become very important as well as critical, especially in India which is witnessing accelerated corporatisation of business on the one hand and increase in domestic savings channelled to equities, largely through mutual funds and insurance, and partly through direct investments. There are plenty of entry-level and mid-managerial level jobs available at the moment in the market for the aspiring equity analysts to explore.

Job Profile

Career as Equity Analyst

The profession of an equity analyst includes providing knowledge expertise and financial advice related to stocks and bonds to investment advisors, brokers, and individual investors. Depending upon the organisation, equity analyst shares several core responsibilities which include security performance analysis and pricing involving the analysis of financial reports and statements of the companies to examine the market performance and pricing of the stocks in the market.

This role integrates data gathering and assessment with financial modelling and forecasting to make informed decisions about investment opportunities and risks on the buy side, sell side, or both. This is done with the help of data-modelling programs and methodologies, combined with performance and financial data which has been gathered and analysed, to provide investment advisors with all of the information they need to make financially sound decisions regarding stocks and bonds. Equity analyst should be keeping an eye on the industry trends as well as preparing various reports for both internal use and public presentation forms part of the responsibilities of the equity analyst. 


There are plenty of growth prospects for an equity analyst professional. As the importance of data is gaining tremendous momentum, an equity analyst must make themselves relevant by adopting data handling techniques. People with the amalgamation of skills consisting of handling big data, internet of things, artificial intelligence, blockchain, etc. and domain competency will be in great demand, with a glorious future.  


For an equity analyst, the average salary in India is Rs 7,50,000.  The average starting salaries for an equity analyst in India may range between Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 4 lakh per annum. Professionals with extensive experience between five to15 years may fetch anything between Rs 8 lakh to Rs 15 lakh per annum. In contrast, the ones with more than 15 years of experience may get an average salary in the range between Rs 15 lakh to 25 lakh. In the US, an equity analyst professional can earn a median salary of 80,000 USD.

Future Growth Prospects and How to get there faster

Post completion of graduation, an equity analyst begins with an entry-level research associate position. They can gradually move up the ladder with more experience and good performance. While some analysts may return to school to pursue higher education to increase their opportunities, others may continue into more senior research roles without returning to school. Reaching a mid-managerial level or a senior analyst post may take at least five years. A senior Equity Analyst with a high degree of expertise can move into an investment management role overseeing a team and an investment portfolio.

Pros and Cons of Being an Equity Analyst

Pros

  • Equity analyst profile presents a challenging as well as a rewarding career opportunity for people passionate with stocks and financial environment.

  • The financial sector is a quite competitive and growing domain.

  • Good compensation and growth vis-à-vis other profiles in the market.

  • Interaction with high profile management and finance people.


Cons

  • The job can be stressful at times with stretched hours, travelling at times and client meetings.

  • Suitable for those who are interested in number crunching and possess financial domain expertise.

How do I get there?

Young professionals aiming to enter the equity analyst field need to have a Bachelor’s degree preferably in a business field, such as finance, business administration, statistics or accounting. Also, many equity analysts are pursuing a Master in Business Administration (MBA) degree to get ahead of the curve in the profession. It is beneficial to pursue an MBA in the financial domain if you are entering the equity analyst field. Moreover, aspirants can consider Master of Science in Finance (with or without a concentration in Financial Analysis) or Master of Science in Financial Analysis courses also. Apart from this, you may also complete Chartered Accountancy (CA) along with a CFA charter and/or certifications like the Financial Risk Modelling (FRM). It will help you to know financial analytics and modelling and enhance employment opportunities.

How much does it cost?

The average cost of pursuing a graduate degree in a business field, such as finance, business administration, statistics or accounting is Rs 1.5 lakh, including tuition fees. For some private colleges, the fees can be more, whereas an MBA would cost around Rs 15-20 lakh. The Diploma courses and certificate programs cost less; however, if anyone interested in pursuing a CFA program would have to shell out around Rs 2 lakh including registration and exam fees.

What are the Top Colleges where one should be studying to become an Equity Analyst?

Post completion of B.Com and M.Com, aspirants can opt for MBA in finance or financial analysis from various management institutes. Students can also opt for CA or CFA courses. Below list provides renowned institutes offering courses in equity analyst:

Ranking of College 

Name of College, City

Programme Fees 

1

Narsee Monjee Institute of Management, Mumbai

MBA – Rs 8,13,000 for 2 years

2

International Management Institute, New Delhi

PGDM – Rs 17,68,000 for 2 years

3

SP Jain Institute of Management and Research, Mumbai

PGDM – Rs 16,25,000 for 2 years

4

Xavier Institute of Management, Bhubaneshwar

MBA – Rs 17,30,000 for 2 years

5

ICFAI Business School, Pune

MBA – Rs 14,04,000 for 2 years

6

Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani

MBA – Rs 12,00,000 for 2 years

Books and other Study Material

Equity analyst is a highly skilled profile and requires knowledge of the financial domain. There are good study materials available on the internet to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts. Some of the books that are recommended include:

  • The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham

  • Competitive Strategy by Michael Porter

  • Buffettology by Mary Buffett and David Clark


Apart from these books, aspirants can opt for CFA books, read annual reports of companies, blogs and magazines related to finance to gain detailed knowledge about the field.

What if the career as an equity analyst does not work out for me? What are the other options for an equity analyst with these credentials?

Finance is a vast domain wherein people can shift their careers between various profiles, and it is true for an equity analyst person also. Other options which an equity analyst can explore is that of an investment banking professional, financial analyst, chartered accountant, data analyst.

Content on this page is by Career Expert
Mrs. Kum Kum Tandon
MA (Psychology), M.Ed, Diploma in Educational Psychology, Vocational Guidance & Counseling (NCERT, Delhi) | View Complete Profile
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